iscover
QantasLink will codeshare with Skytrans on flights to Lord Howe Island as the smaller carrier takes over the licence in just under a year and a half.
Skytrans will fly Dash 8 Q200s from Sydney to Lord Howe starting in February 2026 as QantasLink phases out its own Q200s, the only aircraft in the Qantas fleet capable of landing on the island’s short runway.
This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
Under the arrangement, Qantas will continue flying Q200s under the existing licence until 29 March 2025, when it will begin a transitional period with Skytrans crew potentially training or operating QantasLink flights before Skytrans takes over the route completely from 26 February 2026.
The codeshare agreement will begin when Skytrans starts operating its own flights, with customers able to continue booking flights through Qantas, earning loyalty points and status credits, and accessing Qantas’ Sydney lounges.
“We have a long and proud history with Lord Howe Island and are pleased to be partnering with Skytrans to make sure the island continues to have a reliable air service as the Q200s are phased out of the QantasLink fleet,” QantasLink CEO Rachel Yangoyan said.
“We have been working closely with Skytrans to secure a codeshare arrangement for these flights so our frequent flyers can continue to enjoy the benefits they know and love when flying with Qantas.
“Building on more than 30 years’ of services, we will continue to support both the island and Skytrans throughout the transition period, and into the future.”
Skytrans will operate on the same frequency as QantasLink, which flies four times per week to Lord Howe on average and will fly from Qantas’ Terminal 3 at Sydney Airport.
Alan Milne, CEO of Skytrans, said the airline is eager to begin services after a “very thorough” licencing process by the NSW government.
“To have the support of Qantas during the transition period is extremely important to us, and we really do thank Qantas for that,” Milne said.
“Skytrans has a long history of servicing remote communities in far north Queensland and the Torres Strait, so we look forward to the relationship with the Lord Howe people to ensure that this essential air service continues.”
Sydney–Lord Howe Island is one of only two routes in NSW that require a licence from the state government to operate, the other being Sydney–Moree, which QantasLink will continue to fly until at least 2030.
NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said maintaining the air services to these destinations is a “priority”.
“More than 16,000 tourists from Australia and overseas visit Lord Howe Island every year via the Sydney to Lord Howe route and last year around 31,000 passengers travelled on the Sydney to Moree service,” Minister Aitchison said.
“These air services are critical connections for these communities, providing access to essential services including health care and education as well as shopping, visiting friends, family and business.”
QantasLink announced in June that it will shift its turboprop fleet to all Q400s from the end of this year, phasing out its 19 Q200 and Q300 aircraft.
According to Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson, the 14 mid-life Q400s, sourced from an unnamed international carrier, are more than 30 per cent faster, produce fewer carbon emissions per passenger, and are on average 10 years younger than the aircraft they are replacing.
“QantasLink turboprops carry more than 3.5 million customers to more than 50 destinations around regional Australia every year, and these next-generation aircraft allow us to improve the travel experience with a faster and more comfortable experience,” Hudson said.
“By consolidating our turboprops into a single fleet type, we’ll be able to further improve our reliability and provide a better recovery for our customers during disruptions as well as reducing complexity and cost for our operation.”
